Best truck under $10k?

[Muhammad]

Hey man, I am happy you found something you like for under 10k, gas might come down! Maybe start saving for a good used electric truck for the next one

Electric trucks are going to be cost prohibitive for a long time because of the likely battery replacement cost coming in at 100-150k miles. So you start with a $50k base model lightning, it dips to $20k in 5 years but by then needs a $20k battery replacement?

Now a PHEV tacoma, ranger, or even full size trucks would make the most sense... if anybody would ever make one. Maybe a base model maverick hybrid, but I don't like the tiny bed or FWD.

And this is where the thread goes off track, isn't it.

 

[dirttoys]

Electric trucks are going to be cost prohibitive for a long time because of the likely battery replacement cost coming in at 100-150k miles. So you start with a $50k base model lightning, it dips to $20k in 5 years but by then needs a $20k battery replacement?

Now a PHEV tacoma, ranger, or even full size trucks would make the most sense... if anybody would ever make one. Maybe a base model maverick hybrid, but I don't like the tiny bed or FWD.

And this is where the thread goes off track, isn't it.

No no, just kidding........... technology transitions happen, it's just that it will be 20 years before you can buy a 20 year old used electric truck. No policy/political agenda intended.

OMG I saw a little maverick truck today, maverick to me is the car you bought when you didn't need a cool car to get girls Love to meet the marketing folks that brought that old name back to life

 

[MossRoad]

Here, e85 is about 50% cheaper than regular unleaded. I figured net 30% savings?

WOW! Here, e85 used to be about 20% cheaper, but the last few months, it cost MORE than e10. I was kinda shocked at that.

 

[MossRoad]

That image you have of yourself must be about 30 years old or you must be buying from a doting uncle. 10K won't get anything worth owning these days.

I have to ask, with some of the comments from you in various threads, how old are you?

 

[MossRoad]

Do you find that your mileage decreases though? When we started getting E-10, I found that my mileage dropped 10%.

That’s kinda hard to pin that big of a drop on E10.

E10 has about 96.7% of the energy as E0. Many studies out there show E10 will reduce mileage by about 3-4% VS E0.

So yes, your mileage will go down if you use E10 vs E0. However, it isn’t going to drop 10%.

 

[Raul-02]

how old are you?

Very. But I tell all the Jailbait I'm 18

 

[Jstpssng]

No no, just kidding........... technology transitions happen, it's just that it will be 20 years before you can buy a 20 year old used electric truck. No policy/political agenda intended.

OMG I saw a little maverick truck today, maverick to me is the car you bought when you didn't need a cool car to get girls Love to meet the marketing folks that brought that old name back to life

It's not that different than the original car. Picture a '76 with the trunk lid taken off and the sides smoothed, and that's what you have now. I have been thinking about one for a run around vehicle when I don't need a pickup... take the dog to the lake and throw him in the back for the ride home.

 

[Jstpssng]

That’s kinda hard to pin that big of a drop on E10.

E10 has about 96.7% of the energy as E0. Many studies out there show E10 will reduce mileage by about 3-4% VS E0.

So yes, your mileage will go down if you use E10 vs E0. However, it isn’t going to drop 10%.

All that I know is I was keeping careful track of my mileage per tank, and all of a sudden it dropped. I didn't even realize they had started diluting the fuel, but that's when it happened. That was a '98 pickup though, so really not made for watered down fuel.

 

[Jstpssng]

Maybe a base model maverick hybrid, but I don't like the tiny bed or FWD.

There's also that little bit about them catching fire occasionally.

Ford recalls Maverick, Escape and Lincoln Corsair hybrids for fire risk

 

[artf]

Sometimes You Have to Work or Pay to Make it Your Home Depot Truck

Chiming in late, but confused how EVs made it into a thread for a "Home Depot" truck. My interpretation was part-time hauler not daily driver, doesn't have to be pretty, but has to run well and support your chores & work.

9 years ago I bought a 1999 Ford F250 Crew Cab short bed 2WD for $9K. It was on a Dealer's lot, had 2 flat tires, a hole in the bed where the 5th wheel hitch was, and the braking system was locked up from sitting too long. Truck was an auction truck with 1 previous owner according to DMV records. F250 only had 98,000 miles on it. I returned to the dealer 3 times before I could actually drive it. It was advertised for $8500, but they pissed me off when they raised the price because I made them fix things.....brakes were dragging during the test drive. The interior was pristine cloth and clean and original. It was a gas, not diesel, and it was purple. 10 miles/gallon city, 12 miles highway.

Nobody in Central Illinois wanted a 2WD Purple F250 with a gas engine.

I walked away after the 3rd time. 3 weeks later I spoke to my automotive tech about the truck. Knowing he'd get some more business, he suggested I buy it. I went back and swallowed the extra $500. I spent $2100 to fix the rest of the truck....brakes, tires, exhaust with my tech..

Yup, only purple truck in the county. Neighbors asked if I had a midlife crisis and was now leaving the straight guys team.

Truck only has 153,000 miles now. It'll haul my trailer with tractor smoothly.......it's all about stopping, not pulling!

I don't regret buying the truck......just paid to repair the A/C. It looks like a beater and runs like a champion. Still has no leaks.

My favorite experience is at traffic lights when a fellow citizen pulls up in a nice, shiny, almost new F250 or F350. I'd like to have their truck, but I don't want their payments. I'm very content. My truck will do everything their truck will do.

 

[Torvy]

Sometimes You Have to Work or Pay to Make it Your Home Depot Truck

Chiming in late, but confused how EVs made it into a thread for a "Home Depot" truck. My interpretation was part-time hauler not daily driver, doesn't have to be pretty, but has to run well and support your chores & work.

For me, that would exactly fit an EV truck, if one could be found at typical ICE pricing. I could do 99.9% of my running around with p-t hauler using no gas. The longest R/T I would make is maybe 120 miles. I would still rather have a PHEV. If Toyota makes a Tundra or Tacoma Prime, it could be worth the investment for me. The RAV4 Prime can go 42 miles on a charge. 600 miles range total. 75% of my errands/hauling would be 25 miles round trip. The beauty of that would be that on those rare occasions when I need more range, the gas kicks in and I'm not stranded somewhere.

 

[John0829]

If Toyota makes a Tundra or Tacoma Prime, it could be worth the investment for me.

I heard that both a Tundra and Taco are in the works, don't know how long will have to wait. I too might be interested but giving up my 5.7L Tundra would be hard to do.

As for trucks under the 10K limit, I was looking for a 1 ton flat to use on the farm. After LOTS of travel (3 states) and looking I finally found a 1992 GMC K3500, older than most would be looking for but literally barn find. A couple had used it to haul their camper to and from Florida until they got to where could no longer make the trip. It had been parked for a few years when I picked it up for 4K, after a tune up, exhaust repair, TBI rebuild and a rebuilt distributor (about another 1K) it is a very dependable truck.

Good used trucks at a reasonable price are out there, just takes a LOT of looking.

 

[mreatwork]

Older Tacomas have major frame rust problems.

 

[5030]

I tend to listen to What Scotty Kilmer has to say about various mechanical aspects on various makes. Scotty is no nonsense when it comes to the pro's and con's of vehicles.

 

[Jstpssng]

Older Tacomas have major frame rust problems.

Not all of them. Many have newer frames with the same old parts; including brake lines.

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

Not all of them. Many have newer frames with the same old parts; including brake lines.

Never seen a rusted frame here. And I've seen lots of frames.

 

[5030]

No road salt (winter) equals no rusted frames. The one thing I have issues with are the steel brake lines that American manufacturers like to use. They all eventually rust out (salt or no salt) from moisture splash. I've replaced brake (hard lines) on a couple vehicles now and in the process of re-hard lining another. Don't know why domestic builder don't use nickel copper alloy hard lines like European builder do. They last the life of the vehicle, are much easier to work with and not as expensive as the pre bent steel lines.

 

[Tractorable]

I special ordered a new F350 in January and will be picking it up in August.

As for trucks under $10k, I’ll be selling my 2006 Honda Ridgeline with 267K miles on it. Runs great, but I’d be surprised if I get $4-5K for it. Not sure you’d call it a truck tho….

 

[John0829]

Older Tacomas have major frame rust problems.

Toyota replaced the frames of those affected with the rust problems, was a time you could see stacks of frames behind dealerships that had been replaced.

 

[Botaskinner]

I rolled the dice on a $2400.00 '97 Ranger extended cab with the 2.3, 5-speed stick, crank windows. It needed a rebuilt exhaust system from the cat back, a can of freon, and some new u joints and a carrier bearing.

interior was needing a headliner, but seats were without any tears, clearcoat going away on the top surfaces, body mostly straight.

I've since flushed the brakes, changed the timing belt and put in a proper sized battery.

It runs like a top at 246K and I'd drive it anywhere.
it has the 6 foot box, has a sane tailgate height, and I can carry 800 pounds of cargo without even feeling it. AC now blows cold, seats are very comfortable and it will hold 70-75 all day. Highway mileage is 23-25 depending on headwinds. I couldn't be happier, owned it nearly 2 years now and will replace the headliner an do a repaint once the projects around here get done.